65 years ago the first Dulux Dog created one of the most iconic advertising images of all time. We take a trip down memory lane, and meet the brand’s latest pampered pooch
When Dash the dog bounded in front of the camera, disrupting a carefully orchestrated shoot, he stole the show and unwittingly created one of the most iconic advertising images of all time. It’s been 65 years since the Old English Sheepdog photo-bombed the filming and became the first of 14 Dulux Dogs to date.
Indeed, the breed is now so synonymous with the paint brand that most people call the shaggy grey-and-white herding pooches Dulux Dogs and feel the urge to redecorate whenever they see one. Marianne Shillingford, creative director and colour expert at Dulux, says: “Like all the best things in life, the Dulux Dog was born out of serendipity. The very canny director of a Dulux TV advert in 1961 made the most of a big furry exuberant dog bounding uninvited on to the set. The result turned an everyday story of home decorating into an enduring masterpiece.”
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Far from being barking mad, with the help of the four-legged advertising phenomenon, Dulux remains widely considered to be the biggest selling paint brand in the UK. When Dash, or Shepton Daphnis Horsa (his pedigree name) retired, 450 Old English Sheepdog owners entered their canines into a competition to take on his crown. The winner was Fernville Lord Digby (or Digby for short).
And, as the Dulux Dog celebrates its 65th anniversary, the brand is unveiling Dorothy, the latest Old English Sheepdog to wag their way into the role. She will be a natural, as every Dulux Dog seen in adverts in the last decade has come from the same family line.
Dorothy succeeds her mum Vienna and her grandmother Olivia. But the most paw-some Dulux Dog to date is probably Digby, who followed the well trodden path from adverts to an appearance on the Morecambe and Wise show in 1972 and movie stardom the following year in Digby the Biggest Dog in the World. Chauffeur driven to the film set, he had six stunt doubles for the difficult action sequences and wore special coats made to keep his fur at its finest on set.
In the early 1960s, after the launch of the first Dulux TV advert, Old English Sheepdogs became one of the most popular breeds in Britain. Paul McCartney owned one called Martha, that inspired the song Martha My Dear. The Rolling Stones – who penned the song Walking the Dog – were fans too, and were pictured with their manager Andrew Loog Oldham’s dog in 1964.
But while Old English Sheepdogs have done Dulux proud, they are now seen by The Royal Kennel Club as a vulnerable breed. In 2020, just 227 puppies were registered in the UK – a six-decade low – despite 13.5 million dogs being kept as pets here. A Royal Kennel Club spokesperson says: “The landscape of Britain’s favourite dogs has continued to shift in recent years, with some historic native breeds now so rare that they could be at risk of disappearing from our streets and parks – struggling to compete with newer, more fashionable breeds. It’s, therefore, great to see Dulux continuing to shine a light on this particular breed which brings joy to so many people.”
Old English Sheepdogs continue to have a bright future at Dulux. Sam Balloch, Head of UK Consumer Brands at AkzoNobel said: “Reaching this 65-year milestone is incredibly special. The Dulux Dog has always represented more than paint. Across generations, families have invited the Dulux Dog into their living rooms through our adverts, and in return the dog has become part of their own home stories.”
Dorothy, the new Dulux Dog
Dorothy, the new Dulux Dog for 2026 lives with her owner, Ellen Wheeler, 60, a hearing technician, in Lincolnshire. Ellen, who has reared a dynasty of the famous hounds, says: “Four of our Old English Sheepdogs have been Dulux dogs. Madison was the first, who appeared in the Dulux skateboard advert and was a fabulous ambassador. Then we’ve had Vienna, Olivia and now Dorothy – who are still here today. It’s brought opportunities we never imagined, from shows and public appearances to TV adverts. It really does feel like a bit of a celebrity lifestyle at times!
“That said, there’s a lot of work behind the scenes. Dorothy needs around two hours of grooming before a shoot to look her best, and training can take weeks or even months. For the latest Dulux advert, I taught Dorothy how to shake – it took weeks to perfect, but she nailed it on the day. For a previous advert, I trained her mum to stay balanced on a skateboard, which took months. People actually thought it was CGI [computer generated imagery] in the final advert, but it was in fact all my hard work.
“Old English Sheepdogs are such a joy to have. They’re incredibly friendly, loyal, and full of personality – they really do become your shadow. Dorothy follows me everywhere around the house, I can’t even take a shower in peace. But, honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way. And of course, their fluffy coat makes them the ultimate cuddle companions on the sofa.”
How to colour your home happy
Holistic interior designer and colour psychologist, Suzy Chiazzari, says:
Red: Energised and sexy. Best used in halls, corridors, gyms and some bedrooms.
Blue: Calm and quiet. Best used in bedrooms, studies and quiet areas of the living room.
Green: Fresh and peaceful. Most rooms benefit from some green. It could be plants.
Yellow: Bright and happy. Use in any social spaces, dining rooms, family rooms.
Orange: Youthful and creative. Uplifting to dark spaces, living and dining rooms, as well as outside.
Brown: Tactile and relaxed. Best used as natural timber in floors and furniture.
White: Light and airy. Any room but avoid an all white space. Mix with textures as alone it can set your nervous system on alert and cause glare.
Black: A great emboldening accent colour. Keep to a minimum and use it to set off other colours.
Pink: Romantic and caring. Best used in bedrooms, children’s rooms. Choose a deeper pink for youthful energy.
Grey: Can be corporate and depressing, best used as a neutral to set off other colours in most rooms.
Purple: Inspirational and creative. Suits living spaces, studios, accent colour in living room.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: mirror.co.uk
